Apparatus for intermittently feeding cinematograph and similar films.



H. FISHER. ITTBNTLY FEEDING OINEMATOGRAPH AND SIMILAR APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 6,1914.

FILMS.

APPARATUS FOR nmmm Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. FISHER.

APPARATUS FOR INTERMITTENTLY FEEDING CINEMATOGBAPH AND SIMILAR FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNBS, 1914. r

1,128,861 Patented Feb..16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Ha. I

I HI lIllll!llIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllm v H. FISHER. APPARATUS FOR INTERMITTENTLY FEEDING CINBMATOGRAPH AND SIMILAR FILMS.

APPLlC-ATION FILED JUNEG, 1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Hall

W M M M m a "M H. FISHER.

APPARATUS FOR INTERMITTENTLY FEEDING CINEMATOGRAPH AND SIMILAR FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1914.

1,128,861. Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Fla/Z- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE FISHER, ORLETCHWORTH, ENGLAND, AssroNoP. TO WILLIAM EDWARD GARFORTH, OF PONTEFRACT, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR INTERMITTENTLY FEEDING CINEMATOGR-APH AND SIMILAR FILMS.

To all whom it may concern: J

Be it known that I HORACE FISHER, hotographic Works manager, a subject 0 the King of Great Britain, residing at 12 Baldock road, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Intermittently Feeding Ginematograph and Similar Films, and of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to an improved construction of apparatus by which cinematographand similar films are intermittently fed in line with the lens of a cinematograph apparatus, either for projecting an image or for receiving an impression on the film.

The apparatus according to this invention comprises a shaft adapted to be rotated at a uniform speed, which shaft carries an eccentrio engaging a vertically movable slide in such a manner that upon rotation of the said shaft, the slide has imparted to it reciprocating motion (similar to that of the piston of an engine) having a brief period of rest at either end of the stroke accelerating its movement to the center of the stroke and then retarding until it arrives at the end of its movement. The said slide is provided with a stationary jaw and with a movable jaw between which jaws the film is intermittently gripped, both jaws projecting in a direction at right angles to the slide, said movable jaw being fixed to a spindle carried in a bearing in said slide and adapted to be closed by a spring or its equivalent against the fixed jaw and to be opened by mechanical connections between the said eccentric-earrying shaft and a member capable of angular movement on said spindle, which member is adapted when desired to release the grip on the Min, to coact with the movable jaw or the spindle carrying the said jaw to move the latter against the action of said spring to open the jaws.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the slide, the jaws and the operating mechanism, but shown detached from the carrying and supporting framework, and illustrated with the jaws in the closed position. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of this mechanism, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, but showing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

. Application filed June 6, 1914. Serial No. 843,377.

-of the mechanism, showing the slide in its lowest position, and with the jaws still closed, and Fig. 7 is a similar view of the opposite side of the mechanism. Fig. 8 shows the slide at an early period in its return upward motion, with the jaws open,

Fig. 9 being a view corresponding to Fig. 8, but showing the opposite side of the mechanism. By way of example the subject matter of the present invention is shown applied to a cinematographic camera which is suliiciently illustrated at Figs. 10 to 12 inelusive, Fig. 10 being a right hand side elevation of the camera with the side plate of the case removed. Fig. 11 a left hand side elevation of the camera, also with the side plate removed. and Fig. 12 is a "ertical section on the line X-Y of Fig. 11 looking to the right.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings. the reciprocating slide 1 is supported and bears against a. vertical plate portion 2, Fig. 2, forming part of the fixed frame. of the camera, and which lies in a plane parallel with the axis of the lens and at a distance on one side of same: the slide 1 moves vertically between two guide ribs 3, Fig. 6, fixed to the part 2 of the frame.

A shaft 4, carried in bearings on the framework. passes through a vertical slot 5 in the slide 1. and carries an eccentric 6 which rests between two ribs 7 projecting from the face of the slide 1. Above the said ribs 7 the slide 1 is formed with an outstandinf. gripping jaw 8. and an opposed oscillating gripping jaw 9 is mounted or arm 10 ca ried on a spindle 11 which pa, 3 through a rearwardly extending sleeve i2 on the slide 1. The opposite end of the said spindle 11 carries a freely mounted crescent 13, Figs. 2 and which is caused to rock to right or left by means of a second eccentric 14 mounted on the shaft 4 carrying the first eccentric 6. The rotations of the shaft 4 cause the first eccentric 6 to reciprocate the siide vertically, and the second 14 to roekthe crescent 13. The spindle 11 carrying the oscillating jaw 9 also has an arm 15, Fig. 3, keyed to the said Spindle l1, and an outstanding pin 16 on the arm 15 intercepts a projection 17 on an upper extension of the crescent 13, which projection 17 is connected by a spring 18 to the said arm 15. The effect of this construction is, that when the crescent 13 1S rocked in one direction, the connecting spring 18 becomes tensioned and the aws 8 and 9 are resiliently held together, while when the crescent 13 is rocked in the other direction, .the jaws are opened by reason of the projection 17 on the crescent 13 contacting. withthe .pin 16 projecting from the arm 15 carried by the spindle 11.

The jaws 8 and 9 are suitably faced with velvet, one jaw having an entire velvet face, and the other having a-recess (not necessary to illustrate in the drawings) cut longitudinally in the same atright angles to the direction of movement of the film and containing in that recess a narrow strip of velvet. -The pile of the velvet of the strip pressing the film toward the completcly covered face of the opposite jaw, slightly bends the film as it is gripped and insures a good hold being taken on the film without injury to it,

The apparatus hcreinbefore described for intermittently feeding cinematoqraph and similar films, is shown applied to a cinematographic camera at Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive of the accompanying drawings. Re ferring particularly to Figs. 10 and 12, the shaft 4 carrying the eccentrics an l 14 and which is carried in bearings of the framework 2 and by a bearing bracket 19, shown by dotted lines at Fig. 2, is revolved through a pinion 2O driven by a spur wheel A on a driving shaft B revolved by a handle C, and the shaft 4 is preferably fitted with a fly wheel 21. The driving shaft B is fitted yvith a pulley D, which communicates motion by a driving band E to a pulley F on a spindle F Fig. -11. Thespindle F extends through the vertical frame 2, see Fig. 11, and receives a film holder consisting of a box F containing a reel which is driven by the spindle F while the box is held stationary and the reel operates to draw the film H from a reel in a similar film holder 1 The film H passes from the film holder F over the rear face of a stationary guide plate J formed with an aperture J Fig. 12, opposite the lens K, Fig. 11, below which p ate J the jaws 8, 9 of the feed mechanism hereinbefore described are located to draw the film intermittently from the film holder F The film then passes through a tension device indicated at L, Fig. 10, and from thence to the film holder F The revolving shutter P, Figs. 11 and 12, is operated through the medium of a pinion P engaging the driven spur wheel A, the shaft of the pinion P carrying a'bevel wheel engaging a bevel wheel P on the shaft of the shutter P, see Fig. 11.

With this construction of camera, when the operating handle C 1s reve vied, the spur wheel A, by the pinion 2.0 revewes the shaft 4, and so operates the jaws 8, 9 in the man ner already described, intermittently drawing the film from the film holder F past the stationary guide plate J; the slack of t e film H is taken up and the film wound on the reel in the film holder F the spindle of which F is operated as before described by the driving band and the pulley F.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Mechanism for feeding films past the lens in a wall of the case of cinematographic apparatus; comprising in combination a vertical fixed frame within said case, a slide, vertical guides on said frame, a shaft r0- tatably carried at one end in a bearing in said frame and at the other end in a standard in said case, means for rotating said shaft, an eccentric connection between said shaft and said slide to impart reciprocatory movement to the latter, a film gripping jaw fixed to said slide and projecting therefrom at right angles-to the plane containing the slide, a spindle supported in hearings in said slide, a movable jaw fixed to said spindle and adapted to cooperate with said fixed jaw to grip the film. a mechanical connection betwccn said shaft and said spindle operative to rock said spindle upon the complet on of the downward movement of said slide to open the jaws and release the film, and resilient means operative at the completion of the upward movement of said slide to cause the movable jaw to approach the fixed jaw to grip the film during the downward movcmcnt of said slide.

2. Mcchanisni for feeding films past the lens in the wall of the case of cinemat0- graphic apparatus; comprising in combination a vertical fixcd frame within sai dcase, a slide, vertical guidcsou said frame for said slide, a shaft rotatabiv carried at one end in a bearing in said frame and at the other end in a standard in said case, means for rotating said shaft, an eccentric connection between said shaft and said slide to impart rcciprocatory movement to the latter, a film gripping jaw fixed to said slide and projecting therefrom at right angles to the plane containing the slide, a spindle supported in hearings in said slide, a movable jaw fixed to said spindle and adapted to cooperate with said fixed jaw to grip the film, an arm fixed to and projecting radially from said spindle, a second arm rotatably carried by said spindle and projecting radially therefrom in the opposite direction to the aforesaid arm, 'a tension spring conneeting the outer ends of said radial arms, a mechanical connection between said second arm and said shaft to rock said arm on said spindle during the reciprocation of said slide, an abutment on said fixed arm adapt ed to be acted upon by said second arm to move said spindle and the jaw carried thereby away .from the fixed gripping jaw when said second arm is rocked toward said fixed arm during the upward movement of said slide the said spring becoming stressed during the downward movement of said slide owing to the loose arm being moved in the opposite directionby said mechanical connection whereby a film is resiliently gripped between the said ripping jaws.

3. Mechanism or feeding films past the lens in a Wall of the case of cinematographic apparatus; comprising in combination a vertical fixed frame within said case, a slide, vertical guides on said frame for said slide, a shaft rotatably carried at one end in a bearing in said frame and at the other end in a standard in said case, means for rotating said shaft, an eccentric connection between said shaft and. said slide to impart, reciprocatory movement to the latter, a film gripping jaw fixed to said slide and projecting therefrom at right angles to the plane containing the slide, a spindle sup ported in hearings in said slide, a movable jaw fixed to said spindle and adapted to cooperate with said fixed jaw to grip the film, an arm fixed to and projecting radially from said spindle a two-armed lever rotatably carried by said spindle the upper arm of which radiates in the opposite direction to that of the aforesaid fixed arm, an eccentric fixed to said shaft to engage the crescent-shaped lower end of said two-armed I lever so that u on the rotation of the said eccentric and tie simultaneous raising and lowering of the said slide the upper arm of said two-armed lever is respectively rocked toward and away from said fixed arm, a tension spring connecting the upper ends of said two-armed lever and said fixed radial arm, an abutment on said fixed arm adapted to he acted upon by said two-armed lever to rock said spindle and move the movable gripping jaw away from said fixed gripping jaw to release the film during the upward movement of said slide while upon the downward movement of said slide the two-armed lever is rocked in the opposite direction to stress said spring and thus turn said spindle so that said film is resiliently gripped div aiu: l wni artl more inent oi Hal s im l. )llfl 'viiifll films past the lens in a rail ineinatographic apparatus; (1). i combination a slide. a vertical tin-ml i'i'zu'm within said ease vertical guides on said t'i-aiizc for: said, iide. a horizontal shaft carried. near one end in a hearing in said frame, said shalt passing through a vertical slot in said slide, an cc centric disk fixed to the end of ll l shaft projecting through said slot, up r and lower projections on said slide against. which projections the eccentric disk bears. astnnd ard in said case to rotatably support the other end of said shaft, means to impart rotation to said shaft, and said eccentric disk to reciprocate said slide, a film gripping jaw fixed to said slide and projecting therefrom at right angles to the pla e containing the latter, a spindle parallel with said shaft and supported in hearings in said slide, a movable jaw fixed to said spindle 1" and adapted to be rocked to cooperate with said fixed jaw to grip the film, an arm fixed to and projecting radially from said spindie, a two-armed lever rotata ily carried by said spindle the upper arm of which radiates in the opposite direction to that of the aforesaid fixed arm, an ecc ntric fixed to said shaft between said frame and said standard to engage the cresieut shaped end of the lower arm of said hvonrmcd lever to rock said lever upon rotation of said err-cit trie, a tension spring connecting the upper ends of said two-arme l lever and said fixed radial arm, an abutment on said fixed arm adapted to he acted upon by said two armed lever to rork said spindle and more til" movable gripping jaw away from the liLWi gripping jaw to release the film durini." ilie upward movement of said slide while up: the downward movement or said slid:- the two'armed lever is. by the eccentric, re so as to stress said spring and turn viii spindle so that said film is resili ntly: gripped during the downward movement said slide.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two w itnesses.

VVitnc; ses:

(lnirrrrn BIN-VIBE, VVHJJAM A. lllansnarn. 

